Sheriff: Prince’s Autopsy Results Not Expected for Days or Weeks, No Sign of Trauma, Prince Last Seen Alive Wed. Night

Virginia Turbett/RedfernsWhat caused the death of Prince, who died suddenly Thursday at age 57? We are one step closer to finding out.

The autopsy on the late musician was completed at 1 p.m. CT on Friday; however, in a statement, the Chief Medical Examiner for the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office noted that more medical information and test results need to be gathered, which could take several days, while toxicology tests might take weeks.

Just before 4 p.m. ET, the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office tweeted, “The body of Prince Rogers Nelson has left [our] office and been released to his family.”

During a press conference in Minnesota Friday afternoon, Sheriff Jim Olson said that he would respect Prince’s privacy in death, but did reveal a few new details. Prince was last seen alive Wednesday night at about 8 p.m. when an “acquaintance” dropped him off at home at Paisley Park. Thursday morning, staff members were unable to contact the singer, and went to Paisley Park to check on him. They discovered him in unresponsive in the elevator, and called 911. The elevator was on the first floor.

CPR began when authorities arrived but it was unsuccessful, said Olson. Prince was pronounced dead about 25 minutes later. There were no obvious signs of trauma or violence on the body. Of note: Prince was home alone in Paisley Park; there was nobody else in the house. The sheriff said there’s no reason to believe this was a suicide. The investigation is ongoing, and Olson said they would leave “no stone unturned.”

Olson refused to reveal what, if anything, was taken from the home, and whether or not any medication was discovered. He said that the three people who were present when officers arrived were “shook” by the discovery of Prince’s body, and the mood was “somber.”

Saying that he himself was a fan of Prince’s, Olson praised the singer as “a very good neighbor for everybody” in the Minnesota area where Paisley Park is located.